Proposal to Extend Kindergarten Hours Draws Mixed Reactions

Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to extend kindergarten operating hours until 8 p.m. so that mothers can return to work faster after maternity leave. The MSK1.RU editorial team discussed the initiative with parents, educators, and public figures.

Parents supported the idea. Educators, however, pointed out that they have personal lives and raised the question of how work in two shifts would be paid. Public figures suggested that educators might not agree to work longer hours.

MSK1.RU readers also discussed the initiative. We publish their opinions.

«We should introduce a duty educator from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for separate pay. Students would have the opportunity to gain work experience and earn some money, and educators would have it a bit easier,» suggested Yekaterina.

«There is already a shortage of educators—they are overworked, one nanny for the entire kindergarten... and this is in Moscow almost in the center, but what about other cities?» wrote Natalya.

«And who will foot the bill?» asked a reader.

«It used to be like that before. Kindergartens worked from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a shift change for educators at 2:00 p.m. The thing is, if you came to pick up your child after 6:00 p.m., they would express complaints,» recalled Yelena.

«Don»t educators have their own children? When will they pick them up from kindergartens and schools?« wrote Yana.

«And then educators will say they can»t pick up their own children at 8:00 p.m. because they are working... We shouldn«t touch kindergartens, but reconsider parents» working hours,« wrote a reader.

«You have to choose: either the child, or a prestigious job, or the father works late, and the mother comes home earlier,» added a subscriber.

«I am against the initiative. I don»t want my child to be raised by unhappy, exhausted educators who will be stuck at work until 8 p.m. Better to have 24-hour kindergartens, so as not to drag the child back and forth. Pick them up home for weekends. What time will a child go to sleep if picked up from kindergarten at 8 p.m., to wake up at the crack of dawn and trudge back to kindergarten?« added Guest.

The Ministry of Education reported that kindergartens set their own schedules and can change them upon parents« request. Currently, most children (91.9%) attend full-day groups, which most often operate from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. There are also 24-hour daycare groups in Russia, attended by 15,000 children.

Earlier, an educator explained why teachers are fleeing kindergartens.